A Review of a Philosophical Paper by Mr. Ferrier (c. 1842)

Author(s):  
Thomas De Quincey
Keyword(s):  

1850 ◽  
Vol 140 ◽  
pp. 171-188 ◽  

Four years ago I suggested that all the phenomena presented by diamagnetic bodies, when subjected to the forces in the magnetic field, might be accounted for by assuming that they then possessed a polarity the same in kind as, but the reverse in direction of, that acquired by iron, nickel and ordinary magnetic bodies under the same circumstances (2429. 2430.). This view was received so favourably by Plücker, Reich and others, and above all by W. Weber, that I had great hopes it would be confirmed; and though certain experiments of my own (2497.) did not increase that hope, still my desire and expectation were in that direction. Whether bismuth, copper, phosphorus, &c., when in the magnetic field, are polar or not, is however an exceedingly important question; and very essential and great differences, in the mode of action of these bodies under the one view or the other, must be conceived to exist. I found that in every endeavour to proceed by induction of experiment from that which is known in this department of science to the unknown, so much uncertainty, hesitation and discomfort arose from the unsettled state of my mind on this point, that I determined, if possible, to arrive at some experimental proof either one way or the other. This was the more needful, because of the conclusion in the affirmative to which Weber had come in his very philosophical paper; and so important do I think it for the progress of science, that, in those imperfectly developed regions of knowledge, which form its boundaries, our conclusions and deductions should not go far beyond, or at all events not aside from the results of experiment (except as suppositions), that I do not hesitate to lay my present labours, though they arrive at a negative result, before the Royal Society.



Philosophy ◽  
1961 ◽  
Vol 36 (137) ◽  
pp. 196-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gershon Weiler

In a philosophical paper the point one wishes to make should be stated at the very outset. And in dealing with a problem which is as controversial as religion, the bias should be confessed before any points are made. I want to conform at once to both these requirements. I want to discuss beliefs, ordinary beliefs but mainly religious ones, for the expression of which, oddly enough, we use the same word. “Belief” and “Faith” are admittedly different in English, but many languages possess only one word for these and further I shall try to show that even in English the difference is not very great and that they have, if not the same, at least a very similar logical grammar. The point of my argument is that beliefs can be discussed rationally and that they should be so discussed. Religious arguments have been going on for a very long time, and I find it incredible that people of immense intellectual qualities, who devoted their time and energy to these discussions, have been working under a simple delusion, not understanding the very nature of the thing they were doing.



2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-391
Author(s):  
Carin Robinson

This paper argues that naturalistic philosophy does not meet its own empiricist mandate. It argues from an empiricist perspective. Naturalists either claim that philosophy is like science in significant ways, or they claim that philosophy ought to be like science. This paper, being chiefly focused on the former claim, argues that naturalistic philosophy is nothing like science. Using Papineau’s markers for the similarities between naturalistic philosophy and science, I argue, counter Papineau, that the method employed in naturalistic philosophy is not a posteriori and its claims are certainly not synthetic in the same way as that of science. This methodological distinction between science and philosophy is one made by Carnap. To show how the methods are distinct I compare two papers; I compare the method employed by Andy Clark in his philosophical paper on the brain as a prediction error minimisation machine with that employed by Rees and Haynes in their neuroscientific paper on mental content.



Author(s):  
Michael M. Uzomah ◽  
Undiekeye S. Attoh

This paper is a critical expository analysis of the controversial philosophy of transhumanism. The method adopted in this philosophical paper is the expository analytic method. The analysis established that transhumanism is both a biotechnological aspiration as well as a philosophical vision of a material transfiguration of human condition and experience which ultimate culmination is the man-technology singularity or convergence. This paper concludes that notwithstanding contending voices and the pertinent questions raised regarding the moral standing of transhumanist philosophy and their radical dreams for humanity; one fact remains incontestable- the fact that their promises are relishing, enticing and impressive. With regard to whether or not humanity can attain the height envisioned by transhumanist, we confidently hold that the unprecedented legacies and achievements of science and technology overwhelmingly affirm the high probability of the realization of the material transfiguration of humanity.



1970 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-97
Author(s):  
Leslie Stevenson

The form of this paper is unconventional. Just as composers sometimes want a change from the traditional sonata form and write a movement in the form of theme and variations, so I would like to depart from the orthodox form of philosophical paper, which contains a closely reasoned discussion of some particular problem, by stating a theme which will be a principle of pure logic, then sketching a number of applications of it in different areas of philosophy. But the variations on my theme will not be entirely disconnected with each other, for I suspect that it is a theme which could have especially important applications in philosophical theology. So my later variations on it will be increasingly oriented to concepts of God, and I will close with a coda which will consist of some controversial remarks about the controversial concept of transcendence.



Author(s):  
Carol Steiner

This philosophical paper suggests that almost all academic research, including qualitative research, is conducted under the influence of a "technicity paradigm" which values objectivity, generalisability and rationality. This paper explores, from a Heideggerian perspective, the fundamental characteristics of research under the influence of technicity and discusses how these characteristics manifest in qualitative research. It includes a reflection on what qualitative research might be like if it could escape the influence of technicity and realise its potential for inclusive and relevant knowledge making.



Author(s):  
Anona Armstrong

This edition of the Journal is the first publication under our new publications management system. It presents an eclectic mix of papers ranging from papers with results dawn from analyses of survey data from small business, to strategic decisions about the factors affecting investment. It concludes with a more philosophical paper which addresses the ethical issues of cultural and moral behaviour in the Australian Defence Force.



2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 194-214
Author(s):  
Amasa Philip Ndofirepi

This philosophical paper enters the contested arena of the African Philosophy debate in which scholars have been engaging each other from the late 1950s to this date. African Philosophy, as a movement, attempts to assert and affirm the identity and dignity of Africans, who felt insulted, despised, and trodden by western ideologies and worldviews. Practitioners in African philosophy in contemporary times have developed fundamental interest in, often much to their frustration, the existence and nature of an African philosophy. On the other hand, non-Africans (including Africans of western persuasion) have often raised questions about African philosophy’s existence resulting in an embedded dismissal of Africa and African thought systems. This paper surveys and synthesises the murky conversations on the nature and character of African Philosophy in an effort to expose some of the areas of consensus and disharmony.



2020 ◽  
pp. 292-297
Author(s):  
Frederick Burwick ◽  
David Groves ◽  
Grevel Lindop ◽  
Robert Morrison ◽  
Julian North ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  


Philosophies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Loh

This paper has three concerns: first, it represents an etymological and genealogical study of the phenomenon of responsibility. Secondly, it gives an overview of the three fields of robot ethics as a philosophical discipline and discusses the fundamental questions that arise within these three fields. Thirdly, it will be explained how in these three fields of robot ethics is spoken about responsibility and how responsibility is attributed in general. As a philosophical paper, it presents a theoretical approach and no practical suggestions are made as to which robots should bear responsibility under which circumstances or how guidelines should be formulated in which a responsible use of robots is outlined.



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